what of Aristratus[n] at Sicyon? what of Perillus[n] at Megara? Are they
not outcasts? {49} From these instances one can see very clearly, that it
is he who best protects his own country and speaks most constantly against
such men, that secures for traitors and hirelings like yourselves,
Aeschines, the continuance of your opportunities for taking bribes. It is
the majority of those who are here, those who resist your will, that you
must thank for the fact that you live and draw your pay; for, left to
yourselves, you would long ago have perished.

{50} There is still much that I might say about the transactions of that
time, but I think that even what I have said is more than enough. The
blame rests with Aeschines, who has drenched me with the stale dregs[n] of
his own villainy and crime, from which I was compelled to clear myself in
the eyes of those who are too young to remember the events; though perhaps
you who knew, even before I said a single word, of Aeschines' service as a
hireling, may have felt some annoyance as you listened. {51} He calls it,
forsooth, 'friendship' and 'guest-friendship'; and somewhere in his speech
just now he used the expression, 'the man who casts in my teeth my guest-
friendship with Alexander.' _I_ cast in your teeth your guest-friendship
with Alexander? How did you acquire it? How came you to be thought worthy
of it? Never would I call you the guest-friend of Philip or the friend of
Alexander--I am not so insane--unless you are to call harvesters and other
hired servants the friends and guest-friends of those who have hired them.
[But that is not the case, of course. Far from it!] {52} Nay, I call you
the hireling, formerly of Philip, and now of Alexander, and so do all who
are present. If you disbelieve me, ask them--or rather I will ask them for
you. Men of Athens, do you think of Aeschines as the hireling or as the
guest-friend of Alexander? You hear what they say.

{53} I now wish, without more delay, to make my defence upon the